The Reduced Shakespeare Company
a “trio of Modern Marx Brothers”
Called a “trio of Modern Marx Brothers” by the Boston Herald and “intellectual vaudeville” by the New York Times, The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a touring American comedy troupe that performs fast-paced, seemingly improvisational condensations of huge topics. They hold the record for the longest running comedies in the history of London’s West End as three of its shows ran in repertory at the Criterion Theatre in Piccadilly Circus for almost ten years. Known as the “Bad Boys of Abridgment,” The Reduced Shakespeare Company has performed at the White House, Lincoln Center, Off-Broadway, the Kennedy Center, and Montreal’s famed Just For Laughs Festival, as well as touring the UK, Belgium, The Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Singapore, Barbados, Bermuda, Israel, Qatar, and Ireland. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is heard frequently on both NPR and the BBC.
Artistic Directors Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor are winners of this year’s SIDNEY BERGER AWARD!!
New for 2025-26 Season:
This hysterical prequel answers all the important questions, like:
- Why can’t Ophelia take swim lessons?
- Where the hell is Mrs. Polonius?
- And why does Hamlet’s mother spend so much time at his uncle’s house?
What will young Hamlet grow up To Be? That is the question!
It’s a fast, funny, and physical extravaganza filled with scary ghosts, wee Scots, singing nuns, and a mysterious vassal in the castle! Martin and Tichenor (authors of William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged) and Pop-Up Shakespeare) take a deep dive into the greatest play ever written.
“Hilarious! …part satire, part musical, and part knee slapping, guffaw-inducing, completely silly romp.”
Napa Valley Register
“Attains satirical heights for which most comedians wouldn’t think to reach.”
Bob Mondello, National Public Radio
Tour Advance
Allison Bostedt reducedshakespeare@gmail.com
(707) 364-0956
Elaine Randolph
Stage Manager/Technical Director
Handles Tech Advance & Load-In. Lights & Sound
emrdolph@aol.com
(202) 215-0895
Reviews
“Smart, cheeky clowns!” – New York Times
“Their energetic performances bring the absurdity of the story to life, making for an unforgettable experience.”
The Sun
“Comic Gold!” and “English class meets Monty Python” – The Washington Post
“This company brings a quick-pace and witty satire to all of their works.”
DC Theater Arts
Video Clips
“The Comedy of Hamlet (a prequel)”
“All the Great Books (abridged)” Promo video
“The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)” Promo video
“The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)”
The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s Mission at the Folger
New for 2024-25 Season:
All the Great Books (abridged)
Little Dickens. Short Longfellow. Reduced Proust. All the Great Books. Less is More.
The Literary Canon explodes as the Reduced Shakespeare Company once again unleashes a comic outrage on an unsuspecting public. The Bad Boys of Abridgment take you on a ninety-eight minute roller-coaster ride through its compact compendium of the world’s great books in All The Great Books (abridged). Confused by Confucius? Thoroughly thrown by Thoreau? Wish Swift was swifter? Tennyson tinier? Then buckle up and hop aboard as the three cultural guerrillas of The Reduced Shakespeare Company zip through everything you didn’t get around to reading in school.
Also Available...
The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged)
The fruitcakes of The Reduced Shakespeare Company take you on an irreverent yet heartwarming trip through the holidays in The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged). It’s festive funny physical family fun as these Three Wise Guys send-up and celebrate your favorite winter holiday traditions. The only holiday show you’ll ever need to see! MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION
The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)
Now, The Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles the subject it was born to reduce. From the high-brow to the low, The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) covers comedy through the ages, from Aristophanes and Shakespeare and Moliere (Is Moliere funny? Why not?) to Vaudeville and Charlie Chaplin to The Daily Show and Anthony Weiner. MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION
Explore Gina Chavez's Visual Journey
The Reduced Shakespeare Company's Gallery
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